INACTIN

Thiobutabarbital sodium , the sodium salt of 5-sec-butyl-5-ethylthiobarbituric acid, is a yellowishwhite amorphous powder soluble in water and alcohol. The colorless crystals of the free acid melt at 163 – 165 C. Thiobutabarbital is prepared from thiourea and a malonic ester .

Inactin hydrate has been used to anesthetize rats to study stress-induced hypersensitivity and mice to study Cisplatin-induced neuropathy. It has also been used to anesthetize rats to measure the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Crystals.

Slight hygroscopic. Water soluble.

An amine, organosulfide. Organosulfides are incompatible with acids, diazo and azo compounds, halocarbons, isocyanates, aldehydes, alkali metals, nitrides, hydrides, and other strong reducing agents. Reactions with these materials generate heat and in many cases hydrogen gas. Many of these compounds may liberate hydrogen sulfide upon decomposition or reaction with an acid. Amines are chemical bases. They neutralize acids to form salts plus water. These acid-base reactions are exothermic. The amount of heat that is evolved per mole of amine in a neutralization is largely independent of the strength of the amine as a base. Amines may be incompatible with isocyanates, halogenated organics, peroxides, phenols (acidic), epoxides, anhydrides, and acid halides. Flammable gaseous hydrogen is generated by amines in combination with strong reducing agents, such as hydrides.

Flash point data for INACTIN are not available. INACTIN is probably combustible.

Inactin is a long-lasting rodent anesthetic with minimal effects on cardiovascular tone and renal output. It exhibits sedative and hypnotic properties.

It is a short-acting intravenous anesthetic. It is the least potent of the thiobarbiturates and therefore causes the least number of complications during anesthesia. The compound is available as 5 % and 10 % solutions.